When Four Guns of the Oglala Sioux spoke his words those many years ago saying, "The white people must think that paper has some mysterious power to help them in the world. The Indian needs no writings; words that are true sink deep into this heart, where they remain. He never forgets them. On the other hand, if the white man loses his papers, he is helpless."
This world view or perception of the world has been altered by paper, time and oppression and loss. The minds of the People are shaped differently because of the introduction of paper. Paper has reshaped our right relationship with our land, and it has subjugated us in ways our prophets shuddered in the telling of their dreams and visions.
In this reality of paper our memories and the strength of remembering weakened under the weight and power of paper.When the white man wrote away the existence of whole people we saw the powers of paper. When the white people created the idea of blood quantum on paper our nature was changed, and who we are was no longer defined by our tradition. We became Indians by some else's powers on paper." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 7.10.14
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